Chapter 57: A Completely Different Level

The terrain transformed into a vast grassland, momentarily stunning the Adjuchas. However, the remaining Shinigami seized the opportunity to regroup.

"Disperse! All non-seated officers, fall back immediately! Use Kido to contain the Hollow as much as possible, but don't recklessly approach and waste your lives! Seated officers, release your Zanpakuto at once! No matter what, hold off this Adjuchas—reinforcements from the Seireitei will arrive shortly!"

The commanding roar of the 10th Division's Third Seat galvanized the squad into action. The members of the 10th Division demonstrated the skill and discipline expected of the Gotei 13. Ordinary squad members swiftly distanced themselves from the Adjuchas, beginning their incantations for various Kido spells.

Meanwhile, the Third Seat, Seventh Seat, and the Nineteenth Seat, Kujo Taimei, who were stationed in the western 79th district of Rukongai, simultaneously released their Zanpakuto and charged at the Adjuchas from different directions.

"Pierce through everything, Kazekiba!"

"Charge for love, Tsuyumaru!"

"Shatter, Aramatsu!"

In an instant, the Third Seat's Zanpakuto transformed into a Western-style lance enveloped in a swirling gale. The Seventh Seat's weapon morphed into a pair of peculiar shoes, dramatically boosting his speed as he delivered a ferocious kick to the Adjuchas' side. As for Kujo Taimei, his Zanpakuto was an uncommon creature-type, summoning a yellow loach-like entity to assist him in relentless attacks.

Simultaneously, the other squad members completed their incantations, unleashing an array of destructive Kido spells. The battlefield lit up with a cascade of brilliant flashes, engulfing the Adjuchas in a barrage of energy blasts.

"Boom!"

A massive explosion erupted, and thick smoke blanketed the battlefield, swallowing both the Adjuchas and the three seated officers in its depths.

From a distance, Sōsuke Aizen calmly adjusted his glasses, his tone indifferent as he observed the scene.

"It seems Shiba Isshin has managed the 10th Division quite well. Even in the absence of a captain, the squad demonstrates admirable combat capability."

Standing nearby, Kaname Tōsen, though blind, used his heightened spiritual pressure senses to assess the battlefield.

"The spiritual pressure of an Adjuchas far exceeds that of ordinary seated officers. This resistance is ultimately futile."

Aizen chuckled softly, not disputing Tōsen's remark.

Moments later, Tōsen tilted his head slightly, as though perceiving something unusual. Pointing in a specific direction, he commented,

"However, Aizen-sama, there seems to be a Shinigami with notably high spiritual pressure hiding at the rear of the battlefield. It appears the 10th Division also harbors cowards who fear death."

"Oh?"

Aizen followed Tōsen's gesture, his gaze landing on a figure who had inconspicuously retreated to the outermost edge of the battlefield—Senju Makoto.

As he carefully analyzed the spiritual pressures mingling within the chaos of the battlefield, Aizen's interest was piqued. Senju Makoto's spiritual pressure was noticeably higher than that of the 10th Division's Third Seat.

Observing Makoto's cautious stance from afar, Aizen couldn't help but chuckle dryly, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"That's not a Tenth Division member. Ah, you mean him—that guy named Senju Makoto. He's a cautious one. Even though he was the first to identify that Adjuchas, the moment the fight started, he quietly slipped to the rear of the battlefield."

Tōsen Kaname frowned slightly, as if recalling something. He asked,

"Senju Makoto? Are you talking about Captain Unohana's disciple? The same Senju Makoto that Captain Zaraki proposed transferring to the Eleventh Division during the captain's meeting?"

Unbeknownst to him, Senju Makoto was being observed from a hidden vantage point by Sōsuke Aizen and Tōsen Kaname. As for retreating to the edge of the battlefield, Makoto felt no shame in his actions.

After all, he was a healer—a member of the Fourth Division, dedicated to treatment and support.

Was it reasonable to expect a typical Fourth Division member to charge into battle with an Adjuchas?

As a professional healer, Makoto had long mastered the art of retreating to the periphery without drawing enemy attention—a skill honed through years of working alongside Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika during their academy days.

For a healer to fight directly on the front lines before the critical moment arrived would be an insult to the combat-ready Shinigami.

Makoto respected the Tenth Division and naturally deferred to their expertise in battle. He left the fighting to the seasoned warriors of the Tenth division.

Meanwhile, the ominous cloud of dust and smoke stirred growing unease among the Tenth Division members as no signs of life emerged from within.

"Did… did we get it?"

"Don't be ridiculous! That's an Adjuchas we're talking about!"

"Then why hasn't there been any movement?"

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced through the smoky haze.

"Ahhh!"

The next moment, the heavy, deliberate thuds of footsteps echoed as the Adjuchas emerged unscathed from the smoke.

The Shinigami of the Tenth Division looked on in horror and disbelief as their Third Seat officer's lance was shattered. The officer himself was impaled by the Adjuchas' tail, the sharp appendage piercing clean through his chest. Dragged across the ground, he left a trail of blood in the grass, his face contorted in agony as he cried out in pain.

Behind the Adjuchas, the Seventh Seat and Nineteenth Seat of the Tenth Division—Kujo Taimei and another officer—had collapsed to their knees, pale and trembling. Blood oozed from their visible wounds, pooling on the ground.

"What?!"

"How… how is this possible? The officers were defeated in an instant?"

"It's… it's on a completely different level from us!"

As the Adjuchas twisted its head unnaturally to survey its prey, the fear on the faces of the remaining Shinigami became palpable. The Adjuchas, sensing their terror, seemed to grow even more exhilarated.

"Yes… this delicious scent. Souls steeped in intense emotions… absolutely appetizing."

Suddenly, one of the Adjuchas' spider-like legs lashed forward, impaling a nearby Tenth Division member through the chest. The unfortunate Shinigami was dragged toward the creature's waiting maw.

In the horrified gazes of the others, the Adjuchas opened its mouth wide, and thin streams of the Shinigami's soul were drawn out, consumed directly by the monster.

The Shinigami's expression shifted from one of fear to a blank, numb calm, its body growing increasingly lifeless.

After discarding the now-limp body like a ragdoll, the Adjuchas seemed to savor the moment. Its strange, multifaceted voice resonated once more:

"Hoo-ha~ As I thought, the souls of true Shinigami are far more exquisite than those from Rukongai. Such rich emotions… ah, it fills me. I can feel the emptiness within me being overwhelmed by this powerful, vivid flavor…"

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